Interpretation of Experimental Transport Coefficients

Inferred experimental particle diffusion and energy conduction coefficients for several DIII-D discharges in various confinement regimes are computed with a model that corrects for non-diffusive and non-conductive particle and energy loss effects. This work corrects the total ion experimental energy flux for thermal and rotation energy convection, for the work done by the flowing plasma against the pressure and viscosity, and for the ion orbit loss of particles and energy. These loss mechanisms are comparable to the diffusion and conduction losses [W.M. Stacey, Phys. Plasmas 21, 042508 (2014)]. These corrections result in an up to 50% reduction in the amount of ion heat transport interpreted as conductive heat transport in the plasma edge. The changes in the interpreted heat conduction is substantial when correcting for thermal energy convection, viscous heating, and ion orbit loss (with ion orbit loss dominating in the far edge) but are insignificant when correcting for the convection of rotational energy. A comparison with several transport theories is also provided.